Machine for forming gears and the like



May 16, 1933. MULLER 1,909,840

MACHINE FOR FORMING GEARS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 12, 1931 y 4 Sheets Sheet l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR ATroRNEYs.

May 16, 1933. MULLER 1,909,840 MACHINE FOR FORMING GEARS AND THE I Filed Jan 12, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNE 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY F. MULLER Filed Jan.

, May 16, 1933.

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MACHINE FOR FORMING GEARS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 12, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mv NTOR $0M 0 L V j ATTORNEYS,

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE rnmnamcn mum, or rimzun'rn, NEW masm', assmnon To run WHITNEY no. 00., or marroan, commcrrcu'r, a coaroaa'rron .or connac'rrcu'r MACHINE FOR FORMING GEARS AND THE LIKE Application filed January 18, 1am. Serial in. 508,265.

This application is a continuation in part The invention relates to a novel and im-.

proved machine for forming gears, sprockets, and the like. According to present practice, one way of forming gears is to cut the metal from between two adjoining teeth on a blank and then rotate the blank to a sufficient extent to bring into registry with the tool the rtion of metal between the next pair of adibining teeth, after which the first operation is repeated until the blank has been revolved through a complete circle.

According to m invention, I provide a machine whereby the metal between the teeth of a gear may be removed from the blank at a single operation, without the necessity of rotating or indexin the blank. Other and further objects an advantages will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a selected embodiment of the invention, and in which 2- Fig. 1 is a vertical view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a machine constructed according to my invention, and in which the operating power is supplied by a hydraulic press.

Fig. 2 is. a vertical sectional view through the tool holder appearingin Fig. 1, certain of the tools being. omitted.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the holder shown in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the top of the standard on which the work I is. supported, showing the work in place 0 thereon.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the work shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a gerspective view of a device appearing in ig. 4 beneath the work, and the function of which will be more fully described later.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the structure appearing in Figs. 1 and 8, and 'showing the manner in which. the tool holder is put into place;

Fig. 8 a view taken from the right of Fig. 7, but showing the tool holder in place. ig. 9 is a view of the'device by which the tool holder is handled. 1

Fig; 10'is a fragmentary lan view of the mova le guide for the tool older.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view a proximately on the line 11-11 of Fig. 7, but with the tool holder removed.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the structure appearing in Fig. 7, after the tool holder is in place and the carriage removed.

According to my invention, I provide means for rigidly holding the work or blank from which the gear is to be cut, this means preferably being so arranged. that the blank will occupy ahorizontal position. I then 0 erate on the blank with a tool which will remove from the blank all the metal between teeth. A tool which will perform this opera tion is illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Referring to these figures, the tool holder comprises-a tubular sleeve 1 having on the inner face thereof a plurality of longitudinally extending rooves 2, these grooves forming guides for eys 3 on the tools 4. These tools are shown as elongateducutting elements, therebeing one element for each of the grooves 2.

As best shown in Fig.2, the inside diameter of the holder 1 is greaterat the bottom thereof than at the top, so that this wall is frustoconical and so that the cutting'elements are inclined inwardly at theirsupper ends. On their inner faces or edges, eachtool or cutting element is provided with a series .of teeth 5. Y

It will be seen that the distance A between opposite teeth at the bottom of the tool holder is greater than the distance between opposite teeth at the top of the toolholder, or, in other words, the top tooth of-eachelement is nearer the center line of the sleeve than is the bottom tooth, so thateach element forms a broach.

' Preferably, each cutting element is held in position intermediate its length as by means of screws 6 which pass throu h openings 7 in the wall of the sleeve, and are threaded into holes in the backs of the elements. The holes 7 may be larger'than the diameter of thescrew so as to permit adjustment particularly lengthwise of the groove inwhich the 7 a frusto-conical surface 10 and 11 contacting with similar surfaces on the ends of the cut-, ting elements so that, as the bearing mem- 10 bers are moved lon 'tudinally of the sleeve,

they will serve to tig ten the cutting elements in lace.

ne of the functions of the screws 7 is'to prevent inward buckling of the cutting elements because of the pressure of the bearing members. Longitudinal movement of the bearing members may be caused in any suitable Way, such, for example, as by providing nuts 12 and 13 threaded into the ends of the go sleeve. In the form illustrated, I have shown anti-friction members 14 between each nut and its associated bearingmember, so that when the nut is turned, there will be no tendency to twist the associated bearing memher. 7

By manipulation of the nuts 12 and 13, the cutting elements may be adjusted longitudinally of their grooves and in unison, such adjustment resulting in varying the distance of each tooth of an element from the center line of the tool.

The work upon which the cutting operation is to be formed is usually a relatively thick blank, such as indicated at 15 in Fig.

, 86 4. The finished gear cut from this blank is shown in Fig. 5, and is designated 16. The blank. is secured on to of a standard 17 mounted on a suitable ase 18, and the tool holder is sup. orted above the standard on a frame carried by said base, in such a way that its longitudinal axis is in exact alignment with the vertical 'axis of the standard so that, when the tool holder is reciprocated vertically, the cutting elements may simultaneously and accurately perform their cutting operations on the blank. The means for causing this reciprocating movement is illustrated herein as a hydraulic press, although other forms of operating mechanism may be used.

' The press shown herein is supported on the base 18 and comprises a cylinder 19 containing a piston 20 operated by pressure supplied through a pipe 21. Connected to the lower end of the piston 20 is a cross head 22 vertically'slidable on guides 23 forming part of .that the sleeve 28 and parts therein may be mounted on a, carriage 30 which runs on the track formed of rails 31, and extends transversely from th base. A suitable hook 32 rovided with a eye 33 ma be used in conjunction with a suitable hoist (not shown), this hook engaging the projection 26 so that the sleeve 28 and .parts therein may be lifted and placed upon the carriage. After that, the carriage may berolled horizontally to a place where the sleeve is in position and where the projection 26 may engage the connecting means 24. The projection 26 and means 24 are then preferably tightly secured together by a wedge or wedges inserted in the space 34.

The position of the sleeve is accurately defined by means of a vertically slidable guide 35. This guide has bearings 36 which slide on the guides 23 and, as best shown in Figs.-

10 and 11, the guide is made inktwo parts 37 and 38. The part 37 is provided with threaded bolts 39 which are received in corresponding holes in the part 38, after which the nuts 40 are threaded on the. bolts-to secure the parts together with the sleeve 28v therebetween.

In Fig. 11, I have shown the part 38 as being removed, and it is to be understood that the sleeve 28 is placed on the carriage 30 which is then wheeled to the right, as viewed in this figure, until the sleeve is received within the concave surface of the part 37,

after which the part 38 is put into position,

as shown in Fig; 10. One of the parts is provided with a key 41 which maybe placed in a corresponding keyway 42 on the sleeve 28.

In Fig. 8, I have shown the sleeve in position within the part 37 and with the connecting means 24 in engagement with the projection26, with the sleeve slightly raised so that the carriage 30 may be rolled out of theway. A stop 43 may be provided to limit outward movement of the carriage.

In the operation of the mechanism thus far described, after the sleeve is secured in position within the guide 35, within which it is to be understood that the sleeve has a sliding fit, the press is operated to raise the head 22, this being done by pistons 44 in cylin ders 45 the lower ends of the pistons being connected to the head, as plainly shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted on the heads are ears 46, within which slide vertical rods 47, these rods also passing through ears 48 in the bearings 36.

' These rods are preferably threaded at both ends, as plainly shown in Fig. 7, and on these threaded ends are placed nuts 49. Therefore, when the head 22 is lifted, it will also raise the guide 35 to some such position as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The work or blank is put 1n place on the is now operated to lower the sleeve 28.

During the first part of this lowering movement, the guide 35 will drop with the move- 5 ment of the sleeve, because the rods 47 have no provision for preventing such movement of the guide. The guide will then come to rest on the rails 31 or, if such rails are not used, on top of the base, and the sleeve 28 and associated parts will continue their downward movement, the teeth on the cutting elements acting on the'blank. This action, it will be observed, is one in which the first tooth on an element will take out a chip from the space between adjacent'teeth, and each succeeding tooth will take out another chip, each chip being nearer the center of the :blank than the preceding one. The last tooth, or last few teeth, may be used as finishing teeth to give the final shape to the gear teeth.

During the above operation, it will be seen that the guide 35 is in position adjacent the work, so that it effectively guides the sleeve in its downward movement. It will also be seen that the guide 35 cooperates with a uide v50 inserted in the top 51 of the base, it eing understood that this guide 50 has, like the guide 35, a bore of interior diameter, so that the sleeve 28 will have an accurate sliding fit therein. The guide 50 is preferably in the form of a sleeve having an outer frusto-conical surface 52 contacting with a corres onding surface on the top 51 so that itmay e accurately centered. v 35 After the cutting is completed, the head22 is again lifted by means of the pistons 44, it being understood that fluid may be admitted to the cylinders 45 by suitable pipes 45'. During the first part of this movement, the rods 47 will slide upwardly in the cars 48, it being understood that b the time the lowermost position of the hea er 22 has been reached, the lower nuts 49 have passed to points some distance below the cars 48. In other words, the

1, 4, and 6, I have shown the work or blank 15 supported on the standard 17, and centered by means of a centerin pin 53. Surrounding the pin, and dispose between the blank and the standard is an anti-burr plate overhanging the standard 54. This plate may have one or more pins 55 received in correspondin holes in the top of the standard 17 to coact with the movement of the rods 47 has continued while standard 17, and the press centering pin 53 and properly place the plate.

"On top of the late 54 is a thin plate 56, likewise centered y the pins 53 and 55. The blank may be held in position by a clamp 57, this clamping being secured to the pin- 53 by a quick-turn nut 58 cooperating with a threaded portion 59 on the u per end of the pin'53. This nut and threa ed end portion may conveniently be formed in the wellknown manner, wherein opposite-sides of the nut and of the threaded portion of the pin are formed as flat surfaces without threads, so that the nut may be placed on the pin, and by gear, the plates 54 and 56 are circular in cross section, without teeth. The blank is then.

placed on top of the lates, and the press 0 erated as described a ove. The result won (1 a half turn, the threads may be quickly and v be to cut teeth on the blank and also on the plates 54 and '56.. These plates are then left in position for succeeding operations, and it will be seen that, as the cutting teeth on the elements 4 leave the blank, they will be re ceived in spaces 60 between teeth 61 which have been cut on the plates.

The teeth 61 form substantial continuations of the teeth 62 which are formed on the gear 16, and the surfaces of these teeth will consequently be substantially continuous. In

performing a cutting operation wherein. the cutting tool leaves the blank, it is difiicult to avoid formin a burr at this place where the knife leaves t e blank.

By providing an anti-burr plate as described above, the knife-in effect does not leave the blank, or, in other words,there is no chance for a burr to form, because the blank has no free surface disposed transversely to the movement of the cutting element at the point where that element leaves'the blank.

Any burr formed at all, must be formed at, the

bottom of the anti-burr plate.

I preferably use two plates 54 and 56 so that the wear may be taken up bythe relatively thin plate56, and so that this plate may be taken off and replaced by another one without removing the entire plate 54. This is evidently economical of material, because the plate 54 must be of substantial thickness; Inthis way also the late 54 may be retained and used indefinite y when cut-ting similar gears. r 7

While I have shown the invention asbeing Ill used where the finished gear is formed by one operation, it is of course to be understood that the same or similar arrangement may be used where it may be necessaryto form the gear in several operations. For example, the size or weight of the gear may be such that only some of the metal between teeth may be removed at one operation, after which the gear blank would have to be moved to a diiferent broaching machine for removal of more of the metal. Therefore, in the claims, when I refer to the forming in one operation of the space between two adjacent teeth, it is to be understood that this language refers to the space formed by one operation of the machine, this space being completely formed so far as the practical working conditions will permit. f 7

Moreover, while I have shown the invention as embodied in aspecific form, it is to be understood that various changes in details may-be made without departing from the \scope ofthe invention, and I therefore do not tion the space between two adjoining teeth of the blank, means adjacent the work for guiding the tool, and means for actuating said tool.

2. In a device for cutting gears and the like, stationary means to support a blank, a movable tool comprising a plurality of cutting elements disposed circumferentially of said blank and each adapted to operate on said blank to completely form in one operation the space between two adjoining teeth, means adjacent the work for guiding the tool, and means to actuate said tool to move said elements simultaneously, each of said elements forming a broach.

3. In a device for cutting gears and the like, stationary means to support a blank, a movable tool comprising a plurality of cutting elements disposed circumferentially of said blank and each adapted to operate on said blank to form the space between two adjoining teeth, means adjacent the work for guiding the tool, and means to actuate said tool to cause a plurality of said elements to simultaneously operate on said blank, each of said elements forming a broach with a plurality of teeth spaced at different distances from the center of the tool whereby each of said broaches completes a tooth at each stroke. I

4. In a device for cutting gears and the like, stationary means to support a blank, a movable tool holder having a plurality of cutting elements thereon disposed circumferentially of said blank, and each adapted to operate on said blank to completely form in .one operation thespace between two adjoining teeth of a gear, means adjacent the work for guiding the tool, means to actuate said holder to cause said elements to simultaneously operate on said blank, and means for detachably securing said elements to said holder.

5. In a device for cutting gears and the like from plain blanks, means to support a blank, a tool holder having a plurality of cutting elements thereon disposed circumferentially of said blank, and each adapted to operate on said blank to form the space between two adjoining teeth of a gear, means to actuate said holder to cause said elements to simultaneously operate on said blank, means for detachably securing said elements to said holder, and means for simultaneously adjusting all of said elements in relation to the center of the holder.

6. In a device for cutting gears and the like, means to supporta blank, a tool holder having a plurality of cutting elements thereon disposed circumferentially of said blank, and each adapted to operate on said blank to form the space between two adjoining teeth of a gear, means to actuate said holder to cause said elements to simultaneously operate on said blank, means for detachably securing said elements to said holder, and means for simultaneously adjusting all of said elements in unison in relation to the center of the holder.

7. In a device for cuttin gears and the like, a fixed work holder, a xed base having a tool guide rigid therewith and located adjacent the work holder, a framehaving a tool holder movable in a fixed path thereon, means for securing said base and frame together, and means for moving said tool holder along said tool guide.

8. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a base having a tool guide rigid therewith, a frame having a tool holder movable in a fixed path thereon, means for securing said base and frame together, means on said frame adjacenjvsaid work to guide said tool holder in correct position with respect to said work, and means for moving said tool holder along said tool guide.

9. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a base having a bore therein, a rigid guide in said bore adapted to guide a tool holder therethrough, a standard rigidly secured to said base coaxially with said ore, and means on said standard to support a blank, whereby the tool movingthrough said guide in said bore will be disposed coaxially with respect to said blank.

10. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tube, a plurality of guides on the inner surface of said tube, said tube being inclined from one end of the tube towards the other, a plurality of cutting elements fitting snugly into said guides and slidable in said tube, and means to fixedly secure said elements to said holder withinsaid guides.

11. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tube, a plurality of guides on the inner surface of said holder, keys in the tool fitting snugly into said guides, said holder being inclined .I from one end to theother, a pluraht of cutting elements slidable in said hol er, and

m ans to fixedly secure said elements to said ho der within said guides, said means permitting limited adjustment of said elements longitudinall of said holder.

12. In a evice for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tube, a pluralit of guides on the inner surface of said ho der, keys in the tools fitting snugly into said guides, said holder being inclined from one end to the other, a pluralit of cutting elements slidable in said hol er, and means to fixedly secure said elements to said holder within said guides, whereby each of said elements forms a broach.

13. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tubular member, a plurality of cutting elements slidably mounted on the interior of said member, means securing said elements to each mem ber, bearin members contacting with the ends of said elements, and nuts threaded into 1 opposite ends of said tubular member and holding said bearing members in contact with said elements.

14. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tubular member, a plurality of cutting elements slidably mounted on the interior of said member, means securing said elements to each member, bearing members contacting with the ends of said elements and having wedge shaped surfaces coacting with the corresponding surfaces on said elements, and nuts threaded into opposite ends of said tubular members and holding said bearing members in contact with 5 said elements.

15. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tube, a plurality of uides on the inner surface of said tube, sai guides being inclined from one end of the tube towards the other, a plurality of cutting elements slidable in said guides, and means for holding said cutting elements in place, comprising a member having a wedge shaped surface engaging a like surface on the ends of said cutting elements.

16. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder in the form of a tube, a plurality of guides on the inner surface of said tube, said guides being inclined from one end of the tube towards the other, a plurality of cutting elements slidable in said -guides, means for holding said cutting eleing a wedge shaped surface engaging a like surface on the ends of said cutting elements, and acting to force the said cutting elements outwardly into engagement with said guides.

17. In a device for cutting gears and the ments in place, comprising a member havlike, means to sup )ort a blank, a tool comprising a plurality 0 cutting elements disposed circuniferentially of saidib'lank and each adapted to operate on said blank to form the space between two adjoining teeth of the gear, and means to actuate said tool to cause said elements to simultaneously operate-on said blank, each of said elements forming a broach with a plurality of teeth thereon, the teeth throughout most of the length of the element being spaced at different distances from the center of the tool and the remaining teeth being at substantially the same distance from the center of the tool whereby said remaining a .tool adapted to act on a blank on said standard, and means to reciprocate said tool holder and elements, said standard being-of small diameter than the smallest inside diameter of'the tool, wherebyit may be received within said holder as the tool operates on the blank. i 1

' 19. In adevice forlcutting gears and the like, a standard having a plate on the to thereof and overhanging said standar means for securing a blank on top of said plate, and a' tool movable parallel to said standard and adapted to cut teeth in said blank, the parts being so arranged that said tool will pass through said plate in its cutting movement.

20. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a standard having a plate on the to thereof and overhanging said standar means for securing a blank on top of said plate, a tool movable parallel to said standard and adapted to cut teeth in said blank, the parts being sov arranged that said tool will pass through said plate in its cuttin movement, and a thin wear plate disposed tween said first named plate and said blank.

21. In a device for cutting gears and the like, means to support a blank from which a gear is to be cut, a movable tool adapted to cut teeth in said gears, means to reciprocate said tool, a guide for said tool during its reciprocation, and means to move said guide with said tool during at least a part of said movement.

29. In a device forcuttin gears and the like, means to support a blan from which a gear is to'be cut, a movable tool adapted to cut teeth in said gear, means to reciprocate said tool, a guide for said tool during its reciprocation, means to move said guide with said tool'to a point adjacent said blank, means to stop said guide at said point, and means to move said guide away from said point after completion of the cutting operation.

23. In a device for cutting gears and the gear is; to be cut, means to reciprocate a tool to cut said gear, a fixed uide adjacent said blank and adapted to guide said tool past the work, a movab e guide in alignment with said I fixed guide, and means to move said movable guide into proximity with the fixed guide to form a substantially continuous guide for the tool wlien performing the'cutting operation. 24. In a device for cutting gears and the 10 like, means to support a blank from which a gear is to be cut, means to reciprocate a tool to out said gear, a fixed guide adjacent said blank and adapted to guide said tool past the work, a movable guide in alignment with said fixed guide, means to move said movable guide into proximity with the fixed guide to form a substantially continuous guide for the tool' when performing the cutting operation, and means to move said movable guide away from the blank to permit the removal thereof. 25. In a device for cutting gears and the like, a tool holder, means to reciprocate said holder, a guide for said holder in its reciproeating movement, said guide being formed 26 of two parts, means to move said holder horizontally into position with respect to one of said parts, andmeans to secure the second part to the first part to form a guide for the holder. FRIEDERIGH MULLER. 

